Claims that CMP acquired Kennebunk power company untrue, part of scam, officials say

KENNEBUNK, Maine — Customers of the Kennebunk Light & Power District have been receiving calls in recent weeks from individuals claiming to be from Central Maine Power Co., announcing a company takeover and claiming they’re resolving client debts left over from the acquisition, power district and Kennebunk police officials said Tuesday.

Central Maine Power has not acquired Kennebunk Light & Power District, and those phone calls are part of a scam, Kennebunk Police Department Lt. Anthony Bean Burpee said in a Tuesday afternoon announcement.

The Kennebunk power district does call customers to discuss past-due accounts but will never ask for nor accept credit or debit card information, according to district General Manager Sharon Statz.

Through Tuesday’s police announcement, Statz reminded customers not to release sensitive credit or debit card numbers to callers claiming to be from her organization, nor to give out any personal banking information to callers claiming that Central Maine Power has acquired the Kennebunk district.

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“Statz also advises that [Kennebunk Light & Power District] only reveals account balances to responsible parties and, in certain indebtedness situations, to the Maine Public Utilities Commission if circumstances require,” Bean Burpee wrote, in part. “The [Public Utilities Commission], in turn, will not demand payment from individuals but will, instead, advise them to work out payment arrangements with their specific light and power supplier.”

The recent scam calls represent at least the third wave of such activity during the past year. In September, town police reported that callers using a Utah-based 800 number were claiming to be from the district and telling local business owners they owed money. At that time, Bean Burpee told reporters that police had also encountered a similar scam effort approximately six months earlier.

Customers receiving what they believe to be scam-related calls are urged to report them to Kennebunk Light & Power District at 985-3311 or to the Kennebunk police at 985-6121.